Written Answers Wednesday 12 May 2010

Scottish Executive

Census

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to raise awareness of the Scots language question in the 2011 census.

Fiona Hyslop: The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) has, and will continue to, engage with Scots language organisations who can provide guidance on completion of the question on the Scots language in the 2011 census.

  The intention is to provide context-specific help which will be available both via the census website www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk and the census helpline, in due course.

  The Scottish Government will, with GROS, consider options for raising awareness of the question.

Crime

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many acute occupied bed days in NHS Borders were directly connected to a diagnosis of assault by sharp object in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of occupied bed days in NHS Borders where a diagnosis of "assault by sharp object" is recorded is presented in the following table.

  Number of Acute Occupied Bed Days1,2 in NHS Borders Connected with Assault by Sharp Object3, Patient Discharged during Year Ending 31 March 2005-09

  

FinancialYears
Total Number of Bed Days


2004-05
3


2005-06
2


2006-07
3


2007-08
12


2008-09
10



  Source: ISD Scotland, SMR01.

  Notes:

  1. Hospital admission data are derived from linked records on discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) in Scotland.

  2. Bed days are calculated using the length of stay variable.

  3. Assault by sharp object connected incidents are defined as ICD-10 code X99 in any secondary diagnosis positions.

  For information; the numbers of admissions connected to assault by a sharp object in NHS Borders was provided in the answer to question S3W-32124 on 15 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  Additional data and commentary on assault by a sharp object is published as part of ISD’s Unintentional Injuries publication http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5327.html.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it shares the universal service commitment target of 2 Mbs by 2012 set out in the Digital Britain report as its objective for Scotland or whether it has set a separate target and, if so, within what timescales.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) target it has to support the achievement of universal coverage across Scotland of super-fast broadband, (b) year it expects this target to be met in, (c) speeds it considers would constitute minimum super-fast broadband and (d) its position is on the objectives in the Digital Britain report with regard to super-fast broadband for Scotland.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that it has a role, along with the UK Government, in seeking to secure upgraded broadband connectivity across Scotland, which Scottish Government objectives the upgrading of broadband connectivity would support and what it believes are the roles it can perform in seeking to upgrade current levels of broadband connectivity.

Jim Mather: Whilst the Scottish Government does welcome the UK Government’s universal service commitment target of 2 Mbps (megabits per second) by 2012, we would not wish this to be a restrictive target in terms of potential future scaleability. The Scottish Government’s current policy on broadband is provision of broadband at a speed of 512 kbps (kilobits per second) to known demand, which has been achieved through our Broadband Reach Project.

  The Scottish Government is currently working with stakeholders to develop a future policy on broadband. As part of this work, we are improving our evidence base and have already issued a call for expressions of interest for a new piece of research on broadband and business usage in Scotland and will this month issue an invitation to tender to short-listed candidate tenderers. We expect this research will provide some clarification on the extent to which existing broadband infrastructure is acting on a constraint on business growth. This will be followed up with additional research later this year which is likely to include an assessment of how best the Scottish Government (and/or wider public sector) can work with the market to drive market-led investment in NGA.

  Although telecoms policy is reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Government has a role in seeking to secure upgraded broadband connectivity across Scotland under the aegis of economic development. The upgrading of broadband connectivity supports our strategic objectives "wealthier and fairer" and "smarter", and we are keen to engage closely with the UK Government as it rolls out Digital Britain to ensure the best possible outcome for all of Scotland.

  The Scottish Government also has a role to ensure that Scottish interests are effectively represented at a UK level with Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), the UK Government steering group with responsibility for delivering its Digital Britain broadband commitments. Productive engagement with this group is already taking place at official level, and separately, we have established a key group of stakeholders to ensure representation of a wider group of Scottish interests is made at UK level. In addition, we have responded to three UK Government consultations on telecoms aspects of Digital Britain. These are: A Consultation on a Direction to Ofcom to Implement the Wireless Radio Spectrum Modernisation Programme; Implementing a landline duty: consultation on draft legislation and impacts, and;

  Consultation on proposals for a Next Generation Fund. Copies of the responses can be found at the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/BroadbandforScotland/SEBroadbandInitiatives/History/digital-britain.

Ferry Services

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual costs are of leasing the three ships in the Northlink fleet which commenced in 2002.

Stewart Stevenson: NorthLink Ferries Ltd leases five vessels (three passenger ferries and two freighters). The current annual leasing charge for the three passenger ferries leased by NorthLink Ferries Ltd is £9.9 million.

Ferry Services

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost of bunker fuel has been in each year from April 2003 for the three ships in the Northlink fleet.

Stewart Stevenson: NorthLink Ferries Ltd leases five vessels (three passenger ferries and two freighters). It is not straightforward to provide all the information requested, since the data is not readily available. However, the estimated cost of bunker fuel in the current contract year is £10.4 million.

Ferry Services

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the quality of oil burned by the three ships in the Northlink fleet has ever changed since 2003.

Stewart Stevenson: The fuel/oil used by NorthLink Ferries on all of its vessels must comply with the European marine fuel directives. As emission targets change, the company ensures that compliant fuel is purchased.

Ferry Services

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual figures are for (a) passengers, (b) cars and (c) commercial vehicles carried on each ship in the Northlink fleet since April 2003.

Stewart Stevenson: Annual carrying statistics are recorded by route as follows:

  Lerwick-Aberdeen-Lerwick

  

Year
Passengers
Cars
Commercial Vehicles Lane Metres Carried


2003
83,146
15,341
150,316


2004
97,924
16,510
158,899


2005
101,933
17,255
149,693


2006
102,603
16,946
150,129 *


2007
102,385
16,696
191,256 *


2008
101,612
16,739
218,926 *


2009
105,853
16,713
212,809 *



  Kirkwall-Aberdeen-Kirkwall

  

Year
Passengers
Cars
Commercial Vehicles Lane Metres Carried


2003
27,795
4,317
15,774


2004
34,086
4,828
25,705


2005
38,317
5,544
30,252


2006
37,342
5,436
39,002*


2007
36,492
5,392
59,312*


2008
34,239
4,907
69,258*


2009
37,000
5,303
73,392*



  Lerwick-Kirkwall-Lerwick

  

Year
Passengers
Cars
Commercial Vehicles Lane Metres Carried


2003
14,524
2,484
2,868


2004
17,280
2,660
5,483


2005
16,258
2,630
6,279


2006
16,391
2,776
5,843*


2007
13,970
2,381
10,392*


2008
13,984
2,334
11,521*


2009
14,632
2,285
13,453*



  Stromness-Scrabster-Stromness

  

Year
Passengers
Cars
Commercial Vehicles Lane Metres Carried


2003
136,729
40,209
95,869


2004
142,884
40,205
76,026


2005
144,629
42,096
69,686


2006
147,977
43,983
57,003*


2007
154,777
46,211
62,461*


2008
144,953
43,882
82,712*


2009
151,051
43,457
86,861*



  Note : *Includes livestock from July 2006.

Ferry Services

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many days have the Scrabster to Stromness and the Stromness to Scrabster services been interrupted by adverse weather conditions in each year since April 2003.

Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is not recorded in terms of the number of days the services are disrupted. The following tables list the reliability and punctuality figures for each operating year (July to June) since the current contract started. It is not possible to provide the figures prior to the start of the current contract, since the data is not readily available.

  Reliability

  

Year
Scheduled Sailings
Completed Sailings
Weather Cancellations


2006-07
1,948
1,844
104


2007-08
1,978
1,916
62


2008-09
1,978
1,908
69


2009-10
1,482*
1,468
14



  Punctuality

  

Year
Completed Sailings
On Time
Weather Delays


2006-07
1,844
1,659
159


2007-08
1,916
1,669
224


2008-09
1,908
1,721
168


2009-10
1,468*
1,393
69



  Note: *To end of March 2010.

Ferry Services

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many days have the Aberdeen to Lerwick service and the Lerwick to Aberdeen services been interrupted by adverse weather conditions in each year since April 2003.

Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is not recorded in terms of the number of days the services are disrupted. The following tables list the reliability and punctuality figures for each operating year (July to June) since the current contract started. It is not possible to provide the figures prior to the start of the current contract, since the data is not readily available.

  Reliability

  

Year
Scheduled Sailings
Completed Sailings
Weather Cancellations


2006-07
666
648
18


2007-08
696
678
14


2008-09
679
651
27


2009-10*
503
485
18



  Punctuality

  

Year
Completed Sailings
On Time
Weather Delays


2006-07
648
611
35


2007-08
678
632
36


2008-09
651
619
26


2009-10*
485
440
42



  Note: *To end of March 2010.

Health

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many acute occupied bed days in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde were directly connected to a diagnosis of assault by sharp object in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of occupied bed days in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde where a diagnosis of "assault by sharp object" is recorded is presented in the following table.

  Number of Acute Occupied Bed Days1,2 in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Connected with Assault by Sharp Object3, Patient Discharged during Year Ending 31 March 2005-09

  

Financial Years
Total Number of Bed Days


2004-05
2,340


2005-06
1,749


2006-07
2,224


2007-08
2,020


2008-09
2,193



  For information; the numbers of admissions connected to assault by a sharp object in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was provided in the answer to question S3W-32124 on 15 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  Additional data and commentary on assault by a sharp object is published as part of ISD’s Unintentional Injuries publication http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5327.html.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many acute occupied bed days in NHS Ayrshire and Arran were directly connected to a diagnosis of assault by sharp object in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of occupied bed days in NHS Ayrshire and Arran where a diagnosis of "assault by sharp object" is recorded is presented in the following table.

  Number of Acute Occupied Bed Days1,2 in NHS Ayrshire and Arran Connected with Assault by Sharp Object3, Patient Discharged during Year Ending 31 March 2005-09

  

Financial Years
Total Number of Bed Days


2004-05
171


2005-06
162


2006-07
156


2007-08
173


2008-09
180



  Source: ISD Scotland, SMR01.

  Notes:

  1. Hospital admission data are derived from linked records on discharges from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals (SMR01) in Scotland.

  2. Bed Days are calculated using the length of stay variable.

  3. Assault by sharp object connected incidents are defined as ICD-10 code X99 in any secondary diagnosis positions.

  For information; the numbers of admissions connected to assault by a sharp object in NHS Ayrshire and Arran was provided in the answer to question S3W-32124 on 15 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  Additional data and commentary on assault by a sharp object is published as part of ISD’s Unintentional Injuries publication http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5327.html.

Health

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been screened for tuberculosis in each of the past five years broken down by (a) age and (b) NHS board.

Shona Robison: Enhanced Surveillance of Mycobacterial Infection (ESMI) captures the number of people identified as close contacts requiring screening for each case of tuberculosis. This does not necessarily reflect the actual numbers that ultimately attend for screening. ESMI does not collect information on people screened for any other reason, for example new entrant screening, occupational health and pre-BCG vaccination. No information is collected on the age of any contacts identified. The table shows the number of contacts identified through contact tracing exercises by NHS board area from 2004-08.

  The NHS board area should be viewed with caution as some people may have been identified as a contact requiring screening by one NHS board area but may actually be screened in another NHS board area, another part of the UK or in another country. In addition, in any given year an incident in an educational/residential/NHS setting may result in an increased number of contacts being identified for follow-up.

  Number of Contacts Identified through Contact Tracing Exercises by NHS Board, 2004-08

  

NHS Board Area
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Total


Argyll and Clyde
0
48
11
0
0
59


Ayrshire and Arran
0
0
67
101
27
195


Borders
2
2
49
11
15
79


Dumfries and Galloway
0
0
62
610
13
685


Fife
0
40
73
47
49
209


Forth Valley
0
3
5
32
54
94


Grampian
764
602
74
215
198
1853


Greater Glasgow
848
633
139
0
0
1620


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
0
0
495
578
1,375
2,448


Highland
42
25
112
69
49
297


Lanarkshire
153
202
565
110
157
1187


Lothian
451
352
166
237
432
1638


Tayside
60
11
65
109
272
517


Western Isles
0
2
0
21
459
482


Total
2,333
1,920
1,883
2,140
3,100
11,376



  Note: *1 April 2006 saw the dissolution of NHS Argyle and Clyde.

Health

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have died in Scotland as a result of tuberculosis in each of the past five years.

Shona Robison: Enhanced Surveillance of Mycobacterial Infection (ESMI) collects information on the outcome of cases of tuberculosis one year after initial diagnosis and notification. The most recent complete year of validated and published data on outcome is 2007. The following table shows the total number of deaths among cases of tuberculosis by suspected relationship between TB and death (as reported to ESMI) from 2003-07. This data has not been not validated against official GRO data on deaths due to tuberculosis.

  Number of Deaths and Suspected Relationship to Death as Reported to ESMI, 2003-08

  

Year
Caused Death
Contributed to Death
Incidental to Death
Unknown Relationship
Total


2003
8
10
5
10
33


2004
11
8
15
3
37


2005
10
12
13
3
38


2006
8
12
11
10
41


2007
9
7
13
9
38

Health

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what was the average treatment time for tuberculosis in Scotland for each of the past five years.

Shona Robison: The standard recommended drug regimen for tuberculosis is four drugs for two months followed by two drugs for four months. Information on the length of treatment is not collected through the Enhanced Surveillance of Mycobacterial Infection (ESMI) scheme therefore this information is not held centrally.

Health

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS staff have contracted tuberculosis through working with patients with the condition during each of the past five years, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: Enhanced Surveillance of Mycobacterial Infection (ESMI) collects information on the suspected source of infection. As it is often very difficult to determine how a patient has contracted tuberculosis this information is often not provided. Where a healthcare setting is recorded as the suspected source of infection, it may be a healthcare setting in another NHS board area, another part of the UK or the person’s country of origin. The following table shows the number of cases where suspected source is recorded as a healthcare setting by NHS board from 2004-08.

  Number of Tuberculosis Cases where Suspected Source of Infection is a Healthcare Setting by NHS Board, 2004-08

  

NHS Board Area
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Total


Argyll and Clyde*
0
0
0
0
0
0


Ayrshire and Arran
0
0
0
0
0
0


Borders
0
0
0
0
0
0


Dumfries and Galloway
0
0
0
0
0
0


Fife
0
0
0
0
0
0


Forth Valley
0
0
0
0
0
0


Grampian
0
1
0
0
1
2


Greater Glasgow*
0
0
1
1
1
3


Greater Glasgow and Clyde*
0
0
0
0
0
0


Highland
0
0
0
0
0
0


Lanarkshire
0
0
0
1
1
2


Lothian
7
2
0
0
1
10


Tayside
0
0
0
0
0
0


Western Isles
0
0
0
0
0
0


Total
7
3
1
2
4
17



  Note: *1 April 2006 saw the dissolution of NHS Argyle and Clyde.

Health

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of tuberculosis have there been in Scotland over the past five years, broken down by age group.

Shona Robison: The following table shows the number of cases of tuberculosis by age group reported to Enhanced Surveillance of Mycobacterial Infection (ESMI) from 2004-08.

  Number of Cases of Tuberculosis by Age Group as Reported to ESMI, 2004-08

  

Age Group (Years)
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


0-4
8
7
4
8
10


05-14
15
5
4
6
9


15-24
43
36
32
49
53


25-34
72
79
86
97
118


35-44
76
70
44
72
81


45-54
49
44
50
45
49


55-64
39
36
52
44
45


65-74
37
43
53
45
37


75-84
39
40
44
32
38


85+
14
5
12
10
12


Total
392
365
381
408
452

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money was provided through the Rural Homes for Rent grant scheme to build affordable homes in 2009-10.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were received by the Rural Homes for Rent grant scheme in 2009-10, broken down by (a) private and (b) community landowners.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to the Rural Homes for Rent grant scheme in 2009-10 were successful, broken down by (b) private and (b) community landowners.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes it expects to be built through grants awarded under the Rural Homes for Rent grant scheme.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in which local authority areas houses will be built through grants awarded under the Rural Homes for Rent grant scheme.

Alex Neil: No funding was provided through this pilot scheme during 2009-10.

  Full details of the pilot scheme, which was launched in 2008-09, have been published on the Scottish Government’s website, including details of the individual projects which are being supporting.

  www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-environment/Housing/investment/grants/ruralhomesforrent.

  All applications to the pilot scheme were received during 2008-09, and funding for the successful projects is available during 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make funds available for a Rural Homes for Rent grant scheme in 2010-11 and, if so, how much.

Alex Neil: It is anticipated that around £3.5 million will be available for Rural Homes for Rent grant funding during the current year.

Kinship Care

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many kinship carers will benefit from recent agreements between it and the Department of Work and Pensions with regard to the disregard of benefits.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much financial benefit there will be on average to kinship carers as a result of recent agreements between it and the Department of Work and Pensions with regard to the disregard of benefits.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government understands that the Department for Work and Pensions intends to modify UK benefits legislation which will give a full disregard rather than a partial disregard to kinship carers in receipt of a kinship care allowance. At the maximum, this could lead to an increase in income of £47.69 per week per kinship carer. The precise amount gained will depend upon a number of factors, including the carer’s other income. The Scottish Government does not collect or hold the data necessary to assess an average financial benefit or the number of carers who will benefit.

Libraries

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the opening hours are in (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special school libraries, broken down by local authority area, and what they were (i) two and (ii) four years ago.

Keith Brown: This information is not held centrally.

Libraries

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any plans to merge school libraries with public libraries.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any plans to merge school libraries with public libraries in the Edinburgh area.

Keith Brown: Library services, whether public or school, are a matter for the local authorities, who must comply with Section 163 (2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which places a duty on local authorities to made adequate provision for library services within their area.

  The Scottish Government does not collect specific details on plans for school or public libraries.

Libraries

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much is spent on (a) school and (b) public libraries, broken down by local authority area.

Keith Brown: Local authority expenditure details collected by the Scottish Government provides details of expenditure on public libraries. However, expenditure on school libraries is not separately identified.

  The following table provides details of local authority 2008-09 net revenue and gross capital expenditure on library services, which covers: permanent libraries; mobile lending libraries and service to housebound library users; hire of rooms for local clubs and meetings and provision of reference material and, acting in the capacity as an information service, archives and records not kept under the Local Government and Planning Act 1982.

  

Library Services
2008-09


Net Revenue Expenditure (£000)
Gross Capital Expenditure (£000)


Scotland
119,022
6,822


Aberdeen City
4,254
52


Aberdeenshire
4,448
204


Angus
2,185
19


Argyll and Bute
1,389
1


Clackmannanshire
1,042
0


Dumfries and Galloway
2,897
0


Dundee City
5,269
206


East Ayrshire
2,676
169


East Dunbartonshire
3,084
22


East Lothian
2,064
690


East Renfrewshire
2,402
62


Edinburgh, City of
11,509
890


Eilean Siar
953
0


Falkirk
3,306
637


Fife
9,061
242


Glasgow City
15,461
283


Highland
4,443
269


Inverclyde
1,338
115


Midlothian
1,483
0


Moray
2,156
10


North Ayrshire
2,654
23


North Lanarkshire
6,978
222


Orkney Islands
1,053
0


Perth and Kinross
3,923
44


Renfrewshire
4,542
131


Scottish Borders
1,901
8


Shetland Islands
1,186
67


South Ayrshire
2,176
308


South Lanarkshire
5,669
360


Stirling
1,983
128


West Dunbartonshire
3,033
612


West Lothian
2,504
1,048

Public Transport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to applying for EU funding for the development and extension of the Edinburgh tram project.

Stewart Stevenson: Responsibility for funding for development and extension of the Edinburgh tram project, beyond the £500 million contribution from the Scottish Government, rests entirely with the promoter, the City of Edinburgh Council. This would be a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council.

Rail Services

Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the open-access train operators that operate wholly or partly on railways in Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: As well as freight operators DB Schenker, Freightliner, GB Rail and Direct Rail Services, which operate on an open access basis, there are a small number of charter operators, such as West Coast Railways, who provide limited services aimed at the tourist and leisure market.

  However, the Scottish Government does not hold details of these operators, as track access arrangements lies with Network Rail as operator of the GB rail network and the Office of Rail Regulation.

  All other rail services in Scotland are operated under franchises awarded by either the Scottish Government or the Department for Transport.

Rail Services

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times has the scheduled call at Kirkwall in the Aberdeen to Lerwick Northlink service and the Lerwick to Aberdeen service been abandoned since April 2003.

Stewart Stevenson: Since the current contract started on 1 July 2006, 41 calls into Kirkwall have been cancelled. It is not possible to provide the figures prior to the start of the current contract, since the data is not readily available.

Renewable Energy

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision on the proposed Calliacher wind farm development.

Stewart Stevenson: I am currently carefully considering the Calliachar wind farm proposal will reach a decision in due course.

Renewable Energy

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision on the proposed Logiealmond wind farm development.

Stewart Stevenson: I am currently carefully considering the Logiealmond wind farm proposal and will reach a decision in due course.

Road Accidents

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what 20 roads the highest number of (a) accidents and (b) fatalities have been recorded in each of the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: The following tables provide statistics requested and are ranked by estimates per km of road.

  

2004


Injury Road Accidents
Fatalities
 


Road
Number of Injury Road Accidents
Per km of Road
Road
Number of Road Accident Fatalities
Per km of Road


A8
307
3.89
A916
3
0.19


A761
90
2.85
A77
12
0.08


M8
238
2.72
M74
4
0.08


A726
96
1.97
A91
5
0.06


A89
99
1.67
A90
13
0.05


A71
178
1.60
A92
7
0.05


A70
88
1.59
A85
7
0.05


A814
100
1.51
A96
7
0.04


A78
95
1.38
A9
17
0.04


A90
271
1.12
A8
3
0.04


A1
90
1.02
A71
4
0.04


A7
130
0.99
A72
3
0.04


A77
137
0.91
A70
4
0.03


A92
124
0.84
A859
3
0.03


A82
215
0.79
A701
3
0.03


A96
123
0.74
A82
7
0.03


A803
89
0.73
A702
3
0.02


A702
93
0.70
A83
3
0.02


A85
105
0.69
A87
3
0.02


A9
213
0.49
A93
3
0.02



  Note: Each sub-table lists only twenty roads, therefore, in some cases, other roads may have the same numbers of injury road accidents, or fatalities, as the last road shown in a particular sub-table. For example, the A702 was not the only road which had three fatalities in 2004.

  Source: Scottish Government STATS 19 Return

  

2005


Injury Road Accidents
Fatalities


Road
Number of Injury Road Accidents
Per km of Road
Road
Number of Road Accident Fatalities
Per km of Road


A8
269
3.41
A74
3
0.24


A761
84
2.66
A923
5
0.10


M8
222
2.54
A947
6
0.09


A814
107
1.62
A811
3
0.06


A803
89
1.60
A1
5
0.06


A89
94
1.59
A92
7
0.05


A726
77
1.58
A85
7
0.05


A721
72
1.52
A814
3
0.05


A71
143
1.29
A76
4
0.04


A1
110
1.25
A713
3
0.04


A77
154
1.02
A90
9
0.04


A90
235
0.97
A82
10
0.04


A7
126
0.96
A70
4
0.03


A96
139
0.83
A75
5
0.03


A92
120
0.81
A7
4
0.03


A82
209
0.77
A71
3
0.03


A70
87
0.71
A701
3
0.03


A702
73
0.55
A96
4
0.02


A85
73
0.48
A77
3
0.02


A9
192
0.44
A9
5
0.01



  

2006


Injury Road Accidents
Fatalities


Road
Number of Injury Road Accidents
Per km of Road
Road
Number of Road Accident Fatalities
Per km of Road


A8
301
3.81
A726
5
0.10


A761
85
2.69
A90
17
0.07


M8
224
2.56
A8
5
0.06


A726
96
1.97
A84
3
0.06


A814
113
1.71
A6105
3
0.06


A89
97
1.64
A947
4
0.06


A803
79
1.42
A76
5
0.05


A81
78
1.35
A96
9
0.05


A71
144
1.30
A75
8
0.05


A73
80
1.27
M8
4
0.05


A7
145
1.10
A71
5
0.05


A1
91
1.04
A97
4
0.04


A90
244
1.01
A95
4
0.04


A77
133
0.88
A9
17
0.04


A92
109
0.74
A82
10
0.04


A82
183
0.67
A91
3
0.04


A70
78
0.64
A701
4
0.04


A96
101
0.60
A72
3
0.04


A85
86
0.57
A92
4
0.03


A9
236
0.54
A77
4
0.03



  

2007


Injury Road Accidents
Fatalities


Road
Number of Injury Road Accidents
Per km of Road
Road
Number of Road Accident Fatalities
Per km of Road


A8
254
3.22
A8011
3
0.42


A761
79
2.50
A752
3
0.24


M8
193
2.21
A76
7
0.08


M74
85
1.62
A828
3
0.07


A814
105
1.59
M8
6
0.07


A89
93
1.57
A1
5
0.06


A726
74
1.52
A8
4
0.05


A1
103
1.17
A82
13
0.05


A71
126
1.13
A77
7
0.05


A90
248
1.02
A90
11
0.05


A77
137
0.91
A970
5
0.04


A7
118
0.90
A83
6
0.04


A82
228
0.84
A85
5
0.03


A92
114
0.77
A96
5
0.03


A70
81
0.66
A9
13
0.03


A96
109
0.65
A93
5
0.03


A85
94
0.62
A92
4
0.03


A702
76
0.57
A71
3
0.03


A75
80
0.52
A75
4
0.03


A9
217
0.49
A702
3
0.02



  

2008


Injury Road Accidents
Fatalities


Road
Number of Injury Road Accidents
Per km of Road
Road
Number of Road Accident Fatalities
Per km of Road


M8
224
2.56
A749
3
0.25


A8
199
2.52
A721
6
0.13


M74
107
2.04
A847
3
0.13


A89
92
1.56
B9022
3
0.12


A814
95
1.43
A904
3
0.10


A803
75
1.35
M8
8
0.09


A71
145
1.31
A947
5
0.08


A81
70
1.22
A96
4
0.06


A78
72
1.05
A91
5
0.06


A90
252
1.04
A92
6
0.06


A1
89
1.01
A98
4
0.05


A7
132
1.00
A8
3
0.04


A68
82
0.83
A90
9
0.04


A92
108
0.73
A82
10
0.04


A82
181
0.67
A71
4
0.04


A77
98
0.65
A9
15
0.03


A70
79
0.65
A75
5
0.03


A85
96
0.63
A85
4
0.03


A96
105
0.63
A1
2
0.02


A9
183
0.42
A68
2
0.02

Transport

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive following the announcement on 14 April 2010 on the provision of an additional £10 million for sustainable transport initiatives in 2010-11, when details on how this funding is to be allocated will be published.

Stewart Stevenson: As announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, the additional funding will support a range of sustainable transport initiatives, including a green bus fund, provision for the development of low carbon vehicles and cycling infrastructure. Further details will be available by early June 2010.

Transport

Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the transport projects for which completion dates have altered since May 2007, showing original and revised completion dates.

Stewart Stevenson: Please find the requested information below which has been split into Road and Rail Projects:Trunk Road ProgrammeThe current Scottish Motorway and Trunk Road Programme is available from Transport Scotland’s website at:  http:--www.transportscotland.gov.uk-files-documents-roads-Programme_Update_at_311209.pdf .For comparison the June 2007 version of this document has been provided as this was the most current around the time you have request:

  Scottish Motorway and Trunk Road Programme - June 2007

  

Route Number
Scheme Name
Targets for Completion of Preparation2
Scheme Cost Band(Est’d)3
Anticipated Construction Completion


Schemes Under Construction


A876
Kincardine Bridge
Complete
A
2008-09


A68
Dalkeith Bypass
Complete
B
2008-09


A75
Overtaking Opportunities (3 Schemes)
Complete
C
2007-08


A830
Arisaig to Loch Nan Uahm
Complete
B
2008-09


A9
Ballinluig Junction
Complete
C
2008-09


M8
Seaward Street Improvement
Complete
C
2007-08


2007-08 Estimated Starts1
 
 
 


M74
Completion
Complete
A
2011-12


A7
Auchenrivock
Complete
C
2008-09


A77
Haggstone Climbing Lane & Glen App WS2
Complete
C
2008-09


A77
Park End to Bennane*
Q2 07-08
C
2008-09


A76 
Glenairlie
Complete
C
2008-09


A737
Roadhead Roundabout
Complete
C
2007-08


A9
Helmsdale Phase 2
Complete
C
2008-09


M8
Harthill Footbridge
Complete
C
2008-09


2008-09 Estimated Starts1
 
 
 


M74
Raith Interchange*
Q4 07-08
B
2010-11


M80
Stepps to Haggs
Complete
A
2010-11


A68
Pathhead to Tynehead Junction*
Q4 07-08
C
2009-10


A75
Cairntop to Barlae 
Q2 07-08
C
2009-10


A77
Ardwell to Slockenray*
Q4 07-08
C
2008-09


A77
Drummuckloch to Innermessan*
Q2 07-08
C
2008-09


A737
Barrmill Road Roundabout*
Q3 07-08
C
2008-09


A737
Head Street Roundabout**
Q2 08-09
C
2009-10


A9
Crubenmore Extension*
Q4 07-08
C
2009-10


A9
Bankfoot Improvements*
Q3 07-08
C
2008-09


A96
Fochabers to Mosstodloch 
Complete
B
2010-11


A9
Slochd 2 + 1 Improvements and Maintenance*
Q4 07-08
C
2008-09


A9
Moy 2 + 1 Improvements and Maintenance*
Q4 07-08
C
2008-09


A702
Candymill Bend and Edmonstone Brae*
Q4 07-08
C
2008-09


A95
Lackgie*
Q4 07-08
C
2008-09


2009-10 Estimated Starts1
 
 
 


A75
Hardgrove to Kinmount*
Q1 08-09
C
2010-11


M8
Baillieston to Newhouse**
Q3 08-09
A
2012-13


M8
Associated Network Improvements*
Q1 08-09
B
2011-12


A75
Dunragit Bypass**
Q2 08-09
C
2010-11


A876
Kincardine Bridge Refurbishment
Complete
B
2010-11


A9
Kincraig to Dalraddy**
Q4 08-09
C
2010-11


A96
Delnies*
Q4 07-08
C
2010-11


A96
Threapland*
Q4 07-08
C
2010-11


A9
Carrbridge 2 +1 Improvements and Maintenance*
Q4 08-09
C
2009-10


A95
Gaich to Craggan 4*
Q4 08-09
C
2009-10


A77
The Den Dalry 4*
Q4 08-09
C
2009-10


A702
Hartside Corner Improvements*
Q3 08-09
C
2009-10


A77
Burnside Improvement**
Q1 09-10
C
2010-11


2010-11 Estimated Starts1
 
 
 


A90
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route**
Q3 08-09
A
2012-13


A68
Soutra South to Oxton**
Q1 09-10
C
2011-12


A77
Symington and Bogend Toll**
Q4 08-09
C
2010-11


A82
Crianlarich**
Q2 09-10
C
2011-12


A82
Pulpit Rock*
Q2 09-10
C
2011-12


A90
Balmedie to Tipperty**
Q4 08-09
B
2012-13


A76
Ellisland Improvements*
Q4 09-10
C
2010-11



  Notes:1. Construction Start subject to satisfactory completion of outstanding statutory procedures.2. Completion of Preparation – generally equates to Made Order Publication Date. Year quoted extends from 1 April to 31 March.Q1 = April to June; Q2 = July to September, Q3 = October to December, Q4 = January to March.3. Scheme Cost Band Key:A > £100 million.B £20 million - £100 million.C < £20 million.4. Scheme dependent on external funding.*Construction Start Dates do not include for PLI in programme. If PLI eventually required this will add 12 to 18 months to Construction Start Dates.**Estimated Construction Start Dates include PLI in programme.

  Rail Programme

  

Project 
May 2007 Estimate
Completion Date


Laurecekirk Station Re-opening
December 2008
Completed 18 May 2009


Glasgow – Kilmarnock Enhancement
Spring 2009
Completed October 2009


Stirling – Alloa – Kincardine Railway
Summer (June) 2007*
15 May 2008


Airdrie – Bathgate Railway
December 2010
December 2010


Borders Railway
2011**
2014


Glasgow Airport Rail Link 
2010***
January 2012****